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Photos Andrew McCredie
THE walk up the Wallace Monument is a must-do
when visiting the ancient Scottish town of Stirling.

north shore news

» Set

STIRLING, Scotland —
To get a sense of this
country’s history, con-
sider that the Wallace
Monument, erected in
this ancient town in
1869, commemorates a
man that lived 600
years earlier.

Recently celebrated in the

at the Bate of Bannockburn
17 vears dater. In fact, om the
top of the Wallace Monument
you can see the Bannockburn
Heritage Centre two km. south
of Stirling.

‘The view trom the viewing
plattorm is said to be one of
the best in Scotland (and after
putting up 246 dizzving stone
steps, it better be). Personal
opinion aside, the unobstruct-
movie Braveheart, the tower- ed 360-degree view offers
ing life and times of Sir William) incredible
Vallace are rightly honoured Stirling, the winding River
with the 67-metre stone mon. Forth and the cuthing coun-
ument (more on the Mel tryside.

Gibson flick later). And history buffs can see

Ir was in Stirling chat — first hand why in the medieval
Wallace (1267-1305) struck a ages Stirling was called the Key
blow for Scottish indepen- to the Kingdom. It was. said
dence which —reverberates “whoever controls Stirling,
today. His heroic and inge- — controls the Nation”. Because
nious leadership in achieving of — physical characteristics,
victory at Stirling Bridge over a treacherous marshes to the
much larger) and) better west and the widening River
equipped English force on Forth estuary to the cast, all
Sept. 11, 1297 sparked a flame the key south-north routes,
which would lead to King freia the Lowlands to the
Robert the Bruce’s epic victory Highlands, pass by Stirling.

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Sunday. April 4. 1999 — North Shore News — 24

THE real William Wallace
statue holds high the
famous broadsword.

Last month many Stirling
attractions were closed and
under renovation in anticipa-
tion of another busy tourist
season, including one of the
three galleries in the Wallace
Monument (unfortunately the
one with Wallace’s double-
handed broadsword in it};

jtland’s Stirling hisiory

Stirling C astle” 's Great Hall was
getting its | bi-millenniam
upgrade: and the new William
Wallace statue was) covered
with a tarp. The problem?
Seems some — independent-
minded vandals took offence to
the statue and defaced the face.

Why? The face on the statue
is not that of the traditional
William Wallace mold, Instead,
the stonceutter who created it
used Mel Gibson's visage as the
model. A plaque at the base of
the shrouded statue reveals
thar the stonecuteer, deeply
mired in) post-heart attack
depression, rented Braveheart
and was so inspired by the
Australian actor’s performance
as the Scottish hero thar he
took up the chisel once again
to ereate the statue. The head
is currently being fixed, critics
be damned.

Stirling is less than an hovr
by train from both Glasgow
and Edinburgh, and is equally
accessible by automobile.

~~ Andrew McCredie

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